Traveling cut-off



April 18, 1939. P. PHI-:LPS Ei' AL TRAVELING CUT OFF Filed June 5, 19367 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inw- l A v sm Mw.. @S1 f.. Yu 1% .md H EN NQ Q S Q uw wm aw. s N @R2 31% EN 3 8 Q aw I Tlw u., l m34@ Ew nu s s QN .QQ mw E swBRN hm 0 e 0 n Sm mw ,i I mi; n@ r @n L o o it S Q um n ma o o .vh ma omha 35.5 Smm m n n w l, n M I l ww Nn. 1.1m Sw April 18, 1939. p..PHELPS ET AL TRAVELING CUT-OFF Filed June 5, 1936 7 Sheets--Sheet 2 h MMQN O O QN NN April 18, 1939. P. PHELPs ET AL TRVEIJIIG CUTOFF '7Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 5, 1956 April 18,` 1939. P. PHELF'SA ET AL2,154,695

TRAVELING CUT-OFF Filed June 5, 193e 7 sheets-sheet 4 mw: Tons.PaalNPheZ/'ms' BY .JbV Ho/ y QM 7M' Mfw y ATTORNEYS TRM/BLING CUT-OFFFiled June 5v, 193e 7 sheets-sheet 5 lNvENToR S Pzzzl 'Phelps BY fo/fzjYo/ZZ ATTORNEYS April 18, 1939. P. PHL-:LPS Er AL 12,154,595

` TRAVELING CUT-OFF i Filed June 5, 1936 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 lNv N'TORSPaas P/zes April 1 8, 1939. P. PHELPS ET AL TRAVELING CUT-OFF 7Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed June 5, 1956 w, 2 E. M D J I FE11M lNvEN'rORs PaalPfad/'0.5i

` BY .fo/zzz 1Y0/d ATTORNEYS PatentedV Apr. 18, 1939 UNITED 4s'rari:

TRAvEmNG CUT-0F11" Paul Phelps, muisviue, Ky., and John H0111;cranford', N. J., assignors, by mesne -to The Girdler Corporation,

corporation of Delaware assignments, Louisville, Ky., a

' Appucstmnrqne 5,1936, serial No. 83,688 zo claims. (ciiov-zr) Thepresent invention relates to an apparatus for continuously forming anendwise advancing bar and for cutting it into sections ofuniform length.

Certain features of the invention are particularly applicable forforming and cutting bars of enwrapped or encased plastic material suchas partially frozen ice cream, sherbet or the like,-

which are normally liquid atl body temperature. The mechanical handlingof the partially frozen material, when exposed to room temperature.'

increases the temperature of said material and tends to soften orpartially melt it. In `the case of partially frozen ice cream having airwhipped or incorporated therein to give it the desired overrun, suchhandling and such exposure cause deterioration. An endless conveyeremployed form advancing theenwrapped bar and the traveling cutter,involves objectionable mechanical handling and undesirable vibrations,especially at high speeds.

One object of the present invention is to provide an improved barforming and cutting mechanism in which the mechanical handling of theplastic material is reduced kto a minimum.

Another object is to provide a mechanism of,

the type referred to,.which can be safely and efficiently operated atcomparatively high speeds,

and thereby reduce the time of exposure to room temperature. i

As the bar is being continuously produced and advanced endwise, thecutters must move with the bar as well as transversely thereof duringthe cutting operation. Due to the plastic nature of the enwrappedmaterial and the lengths of the sections cut, the transverse movement ofthe cutter tends to bend or deform thebar transversely in the plane ofapplication of said-cutter.

As a feature of the present invention, means movable with the cutterareprovided which are during its cutting stroke, for bracing orsupporting the advancing bar at a section closely adjacent to thecutting plane and against the bending` or deforming action of saidcutter. As a further feature said bracing means also serves as a guidefor the advancingbar. i

As another feature of the present invention, the cutter is soconstructed as to permit its eilicient operation at high speeds withoutsmearing or squeezing the material being cut and without tearing thewrappingthereof.

IAfter the advancing bar has been cut into sections, these sections arepreferably deposited on a conveyor and continuously advanced therebythrough a hardening chamber. This hardening chamber conveyer ispreferably provided with a series of bar carrier members lfixed inpredetermined spaced relationship thereon.

As another feature of the present invention, the operation of thehardening room conveyer is'synchronized with the operation of thebarforming and cutting mechanism, and this con--v veyer is so positioned asto bring its bar carrier .members successively into'` predeterminedposition to receive the sectionsy of the bar as they are cut anddischarged from the traveling cut-off.r

As another feature, the path of movement of the hardening room conveyeris entirely within the hardening room or chamber, and Athe parts are soarranged that the 'barsdr'op through a slot in the wall onto'theconveyer, and when hardened.

may drop'through another slot out of the cham- ,ben

Various other objects, advantages and important features will bepointed' out hereinafter, or will be apparent from a consideration ofthe specie construction which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and which constitutes only one ofthemany possible embodimentsof the invention hereinafter claimed. In these drawings: g

Figgl'is a tcp plan view of our improved bar forming "and cuttingmechanism shown in conjunction with a hardening room conveyer,

Fig. 2 is a -side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. l, but withparts of the side frame struc- 5 ture broken away to more clearly showcertain details thereofother parts being shown'in section, Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional'view 'through the machine, taken on the line 3-,-3 of'Fig. 1,A

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views taken on'the staggeredlines 4--4 and 5-45 re' spectively of Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional detail taken kon the line 6-'6 of Fig.i,

Fig. 'l is an enlarged sectional detailtakencn Fig.` 8 is an enlargedsectional detail taken von the line 8-8 of Fig. 1,

Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional details `taken on.

the lines 9 9 and IB--IU respectively of Fig, l,

Fig. 10a is an end view of the cam which swings the cutter back andforth across the path ofA movement of the advancing bar during itscut--V ting stroke,

teken en the une o z -lz Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional detail of thebardrop and the conveyerdisposed therebeneath to receive the bars takenon the line I3--I3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of one end of a typical enwrapped plasticbar to be formed and severed.

The type ofbar III shown in-Fig. v1-i comprises a cylindrical bodyportion'of plastic material =I I having a wrapper which consists of twostrips I2 and I3 of flexible sheet material such as paper,

each strip being wrapped around slightly more than half of the bar. Oneside of each strip is overlapped by the other strip, `while its otherYside is bent at an acute angle -to form atab I4.

The overlapping portions of the stripsv I2 and I3 may be adhesively orotherwise detachably vconnected together as at I 5. Such a bar is shownin the Vogt Patent 1,906,183, and it may be formed by the apparatusshown in the Vogt Patents 2,006,375 and,2,006,376,'or any othersuitableapparatus which will progressively form the bar as it advancesendwise at a substantially uniexible strips I2 and I3 properly bent, aredrawn through a former I1 comprising two'longitudinal sections I 8 andI! conjointly defining a tubular passageway of substantially circularcross-section and serving to holdthe wrapper strips I2 and I3 in tubularform, with the glued strips in juxtaposed position and the marginalsides or flaps I4 of said strips extending and guided between saidrsections as shown in Fig. 8. The lower section I 3 is shown as supportedat one end on a pedestal 20 xed to the side frame plates 2| and at theother end is connected to a gear khousing 2Ia.

The upper section I8 is pivoted at one side to the lower section I9 by apin 22, and held In place by a swingable bolt 23 Thus, the upper guidesection I8 may be swung out of position to facilitate the threading and`cleaning of the machine.

'I'he plastic material is continuously delivered from a suitableapparatus which, in the case of ice cream, partially freezes it to acompara.- tively still' plastic form and` incorporates therein ltherequired amount of air 'to give it the desired overrun. Such anapparatus may be a continuous. freezenfor instance of the type disclosedin Patents 1,783,866, 1,783,867 or 1,847,149. A conduit or nozzle 24extends from the freezer or source into the tubular bar former I1 andmay serve as a mandrel around which the wrapv per is formed andprogressively advanced endwise', while the filling material is deliveredthrough said conduit, and from the end of the latter directly into thewrapper tube or casing.

The material delivered through the conduit 24` contains al large amountof air dissolved or uniformly dispersed therein and is under somecompression so that as it escapes from the 'end of said conduit itexpands and completely llls the wrapper. If the material does notcontain any yair and is' therefore nonexpansible, said material may bedelivered through the conduit 24 at a slightly faster ratev than therate of advancement of the wrapper so that it will spread out andcompletely lflll thev wrapper, and 'its rate of advancement will beslowed down tov that of the wrapper.

In the operation of the machine it is important that the rate ofdelivery to the wrapper be so controlled that said wrapper will becompletely filled as fast as it is formed, and with- `tiallysemi-circular tabsor flaps I4 a I3, and not only eral speed from a`motor34.

at the other side.

out danger of rupturing or expanding it or leaving voids therein. Forthis purpose, suitable means may be provided for controlling thisdelivery, preferably by a variable speed drive for the bar advancingmechanism.

The complete bar is advanced towards the cutting mechanism A by a pairof continuously rotating superposed tractionrollers 26, 21, disposedjust Lbeyond the forward end of the tubular bar former I1, and eachhaving a substanperipheral groove 23, the two grooves conjointlydefining a circular opening for the bar I0.

The traction rollers are each provided with cylindrical flanges 29 onopposite sides of its groove 28 (Fig. 4), serving to grip the marginalof the wrapper strips I2 and advance the bar I itself but pull thestrips I2 and I3 from the source of supply` through the 'tube former I1as said rollers are positively driven at the same periph- In order toselectively vary the speed of operation of these traction rollersy 26,21 there able variable speed transmission such ask a Reeves drivebetween said motor 34 and said traction rollers. This transmission, inthe specific form shown, includesa speed reducer 36 having an inputshaft/31 and an output shaft '38. The 'motor 4l horizontally slidable ina pair of guide slots 4I formed in a horizontal' frame plate, and isprovided with a boss 42 (Fig. 4) having a threaded engagement with arotatable screw 43 suitably supported against endwise movement in theframe structure lof the machine. The screw hasoperating hand wheels 44at one or both ends, whereby thev motor 34 Amaybe moved towards oraway-from the speed reducer 38 by merely turning one of said hand wheels44.

The motor shaft with an expanslble of a belt 41, drives a pulley 48mounted on the input shaft 31 ofthespeed reducer 36. Theexpansible'pulley 46'is of the well known Reeves type and'comprises apair faced members pressed together by a spring which permits relativeaxial movement when the motor 34 is moved towards or away from the speedreducer, to vary vthe effective diame'- ter of said pulley. n'

The transmission between the speedl reducer 3S and the traction roller26 includes a sprocket wheelY 50 fixed on 'the output shaft 38, achain l52 (Figs. 1, 4 and 5), a sprocket wheel 5I loosely mounted on a shaft`54(Fig. 6), a sprocket wheel 55 rigidly but detachably secured to thesprocket wheel I, a chain 51, and a sprocket wheel 56 on a shaft 60supporting and fixed to thelower traction roller 2S. yThe sprockets 5Iand 55 may be spaced by a hub on one orby a collar 53.

The upper traction roller 21 driven from the shaft 62 (Figs. 3 and 4).6I and 62 have the same pitch diameters as the outer diameters of theircorresponding traction rollers 26,21, sothat these two rollers areoperated ai; the vsame peripheral speed. This peripheral speed may beselectively varied through the operation of the hand wheel 44 tocorrespondingly vary the ratel of advancement of the has its shaft 6360fby a pair'of gears 6I,

is provided a suit- 34'is mounted on a base plate 35 is provided at oneend" pulley 46 which, vby means of opposed conical =The two intermeshinggears Athreading up orv Aupper traction roller 21 are journaledinbearings 55 in the free ends of the armsA 66 (Figs. 2 and 4) ixed attheir other ends,I to a crank shaf-t 81 which may be rotatedby an arm`58 fixed to one 'end of' the shaft 61, to swing the upper tractionroller 21 awayfrom the lower traction'roller 26. The arm has a handle 10provided with a spring-pressed bolt or plunger 1| which may be inserted`through a hole 1|a in the side frameplates 2| to hold said `upper rollerin raised positiong/ and separated from the lower traction roller 2'6. n

The'pivotal support of the arms 6'6 is preferably above and at thedelivery side so that the meshing of the gears and the engagementl ofthe roller flanges with the bar flanges will tend to press the rollerstogether and increase the grip on said bar flanges in the nature of atoggle. The upper traction rollery 21 may be spring-pressed against thelower traction roller 26 by means of a coil spring 1i, one end of whichis fixed to the frame structure of the machine through anadjustablescrew hook 15, the other end being connected to the outer end of an arm15a fixed to the shaft 61.

The `opper traction roller 21 may be provided with a cover or casing 16supported on its shaft 63. lower traction roller 26 and thegear 6| areenclosed in the housing 2|1` which serves not onlyy to` enclose thesemembersV but also to support one end of the lower section |9 of the barformer l1 as already setforth.

The bar l0 is delivered by the traction rollers 2E and 21 through afixed tubular guide 11 comprising a fixed lower section 18 connectedtothe housing Zia and an upper section 18a which is preferably movablymounted to permit threading and cleaning of the machine, these twosections forming therebetween longitudinal slots through which the tabsi4 of the bar may be guided (Figs` 2 and3). From this tubular guide11the bar i0 is advanced through an axially movable guide 19 and intothe field of action of the cutting mechanism A; l

The cutting mechanism A moves withv the advancing bar |0 as Well astransversely thereof during the cutting stroke, this movement beingtimed in accordance with the operation of the traction rollers 26 and21. For that purpose, the sprocket wheel 55 which is driven asalreadyset forth, has secured at one end thereof a cam having a face groove 8|in which is mounted a roller 82 (Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6 and '7). This roller82 is rotatably mounted on a cam follower 83,one end of which has a yokeformed of a pair of spaced arms 84 and 85, the other end of which has ashank 85 mounted to reciprocate in a fixed tubular guide 81. Thesetwoyoke arms 84 and 85 of the cam follower extend in guide grooves onopposite sides of a block which is loosely mounted on the shaft 54.

Keyed or otherwise secured to the shaft 54 is a pinion 9| which mesheswith a rack bar 92 fixed to the yoke arm 85, the lower edge of whichrides over an idler guide roller'93.' Thus the rotation of the cam 90loose on the shaft 54 causes r the rectilinear reciprocation of the camfollower a3 and its rack bar s2, and the nner by its 1ntermeshing withthe pinion 9| causes an oscillation of the shaft 54. This oscillation ofthe shaft 54 is transmitted to a cutter carrying carriage 95 by a pairof pinions 96 xed to said shaft and meshing respectively with a pair ofrack gears 9 1 k(Fig. 2) connected tofthe sides of said carriage. Thiscarriagev has a pair of side iianges 98 extending intoa pair of guideslots |00 in the side frame plates 2|, so that as the shaft 54 isoscillated the carriage 951s correspondingly reciprocated alongsaidslots (Figs. 5 and 6).

The cam groove 8| is so' shaped and the transmission between the motor34 and the carriage 95 is such thatthe carriage and the cutter carriedthereby duringforward movement (to the right as shown in' Fig.` 2),travel'at the same speed as the advancing bar l0. L

The means for supporting the cutting mechanisrn on the vcarriage1$|5 andfor angularly 4oscillating said mechanism to effect the cutting strokeincludes lashaft |05 journaled in brackets |0542 connected to theforward end of said carriage and having keyed or' otherwise connectedthereto a gear |08 meshing with a fixed rack gear |01 vsecured to oneofthe side frame plates 2| '(Fig. 9). The pinion |06 is of such size inrespect to the length of the path of movement ofl the carriage 95 thatthe shaft |05 is oscillated'through only one-half a revolution. Y

Loosely mountedon the shaft |05 is a cylindrical cam |08 having Va camgroove |09 serving to swing `the'cutting mechanism back and forth acrossthe'path of movement of the advancing bar I0 rbut moving it only duringthe forward movement of the carriage 95. A springpessed pawl I0 mountedon a collar fixed to the shaft |05, cooperates with a ratchet face atone end of said cam. The ratchet face is formed of a pair ofy rampedrecesses ||2 terminating in ratchet catches ||3 at diametricallyopposite sides of the cam axis.

In the operation of this cam mechanism, during the forward movement ofthe carriage 95, the pawl ||0 rotating with-the shaft |05 engages one ofthe catches ||3 of the camA |08 to rotate said cam in a clockwisedirection, asshown in Fig. 10a, for one-half of a revoluation. Duringthe return movement of the carriage 95 to the left, as shown in Fig. 2,the pawl ||0 moving in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 10a) ridesidly over the ramped recess ||2 of the cam |08 so that said cam' remainsstationary. At the end of this return'movement ofthe carriage 95, thepawl ||0 will reach the other ratchet catch I3 so that upon the nextforward -movement of said carriage, said pawl will be in position toengage said latter catch and rotate the cam |08 another half revolution.

In order to insure against accidental rotation of the cam |08 during thereturn movement of the carriage 95,- one end of the cam is provided witha brake drum ||'6 (Figs, 9 and l0) mounted for' rotation with the cam|08 and provided with a pair of diametrically opposed depressions ||5 onthe peripherythereof, adapted to cooperate with a spring-pressed stopbolt ||1 mounted in a fixed sleeve IIB. The two depressions H5 are somounted with respect to the boltA i1 that upon the completion of theforward stroke of the carriage 95, one of these depressions will beopposite' to said bolt. In this position, the bolt ||1 will snap intosaid latter depression and hold the cam- |08 against further rotationuntil the next forward movement ofthe carriage 95. The sides of the.depressions are `curved or inclined and the forward or locking end ofthebolt ||1 is v,correspondingly curved or inclined so that upon forwardmovement of the carriage 95, the action of the pawl ||0 on the cam |08will overcome the locking resistance of said bolt and permit said camtov be rotated.

The cam |08acts to swing the cutter ||9 only during the forward movementof the carriage 95,

and in one direction during one forward movehas a yoke |25 whichstraddles ak pin |26 con.

nected to a. member |21 (Fig. 12) which is mounted to oscillate cnashaft |28 and which forms a housing for a mechanism which reciprocatesthe cutter ||9 endwise.

This reciprocating mechanism includes an eccentric |33 fixed to theshaft |28 and mounted for rotation in a Scotch yoke which includes ablock |34 mounted for transverse movement in a guide l|35 which in turnis mounted for slidable movement in the guide housing |21. The guide |35extends lbeyond the upper vend of the housing |21 and is providedwith atransverse flange |36 in which are mounted a pair of screw studs |31held in adjustable: position on the flange |36 by a pair of lockingnuts.|38, and having their lower ends fixed to one end of` a bowed sawframe |40. Stretched across this saw frame |40 is the cutter ||9 whichis in the form of a double edged very ne saw blade. The 4tension on thissaw blade |9 may be adjusted by a wing nut |4| screwed to a shank |42connected to the upper end of said saw and passing through they upperend of the saw frame |40. The tightening I of the wing nut may imparttension to the saw blade by bending the frame if the latter be resil-`ient, but preferably there is a coil spring beneath the wing nut.

For supporting and continuously rotating the shaft |28, there is splinedthereto a sleeve |39 (Figs. 2 and 3) which is journaledl in a fixedbearing bracket |43 secured to the frame structure of the machine. Thevsleeve is held against axial movement while permitting the shaft |28 tomove endwise therein in` accordance with the movement of the carriage95. This shaft |28 is continuously rotated from the motor 34 by asuitable transmission which, in the specific form n shown, includes apulley |44 fixed to the sleeve CTI |39 and driven from a pulley |45 onthe motor shaft 35, by a belt |46. Thus the saw is continuouslyreciprocated by the action ofthe cam |33 on the shaft |28 which iscontinuously rotated by the motor 34 acting through the belt |46.

Since the motor 34 isrmovable for speed adjustments of the Reeves drive,the resulting slack in the rope belt |46 is taken up by an idler pulley|41 mounted at one end of a pivoted arm |48 and yieldably urged againstsaid rope belt |46 by a counterweight- |50. v e

The forward end of the-shaft |28 is journaled in a sleeve |52 (Fig. i2)kwhich forms an extension of or is otherwise connected to the housing|21, and which isloosely embraced by a bearing |53 connected to thebottom of the carriage95 so that said housing may bey angularlyoscillated in said bearing |53 through the action of.l the cam |08 asalready described. This bearing |53 at one end abuts a collar |5| fixedto the shaft |28 and at the other end an axially facing shoulder |54formed in the sleeve 52 so that said shaft is ymovable endwise in thexed bearing bracket |43.-

The saw blade ||9 operates adjacent to the outlet end of the tubularguide 19 which is flared at its entryend andvwhich is connected foraxialV movement with thecarriage 95. This tubular guide 19 serves toeffectively support or brace the advancing bar against the transversesection of the saw blade ||9 near the plane of action of saidsaw blade,and comprises an upper section |58 and a lower section |59A (Figs. 3 and5). These sections arehshaped to conjointly form a. passagewayfor theadvancing bar I0 and have side flanges |60 serving to guide the bar tabsI4 therebetween. One of said sections, as for instance the upper section|58, has a troughlike depression |6| which'serves toY permit a limiteddeformation of the bar 0 resulting from pressure action of the saw4blade H9, thereby avoiding anypressure of the bar against said tubularguide 19,'which would retard the continuous uniform advancement 'of saidbar.

In order tosupport'v the tubular member 18 for movement with thecarriage |15, the side flanges |68 have connected thereto bosses |62which receive the lower ends of uprights or rods |63, the upperends ofwhichfare threadedinto or otherwise secured to carriage brackets |50a.This construction serves to move the tubular guide 19 back and forth ina relationship to the plane of cutting movement of the saw blade ||8.

While the operation of the cutting mechanism is in a large measureself-evident from the foregoing description, rsuch operation is brieflysummarized as follows:

The carriage moving back and forth in timed relationship with therotation of the traction rollers 26 and 21, causes the rotation of thecam |08 one-half of a revolution during each forward movement of saidcarriage. This forward movement of the carriage causes a correspondingmovement of the saw blade ||9 and the tubular guide 19 with theadvancingbar. At' the same time the rotationof the cam |08 one-half of arevolution causes the housing |21 to' be swung about the continuouslyrotating shaft |28 to correspondingly swing the reciprocating saw blade||9 transversely across the advancing bar and to cut a section of saidbar. Upon completion of the cutting stroke, the carriage 95 moves back,

carrying with it the saw blade ||9 and the tubular guide 19. During thisreturn movement the cam |08 is stationary, so that the saw blade ||9maintains the angular position it assumed at the-end of its last cuttingstroke. During the next forward movement of the carriage 95, the

rotation of the cam |08 is continued another half a revolution, thiscausing the saw blade ||9 to swing back to its original position whilesaid blade and thetubular guide 19 are moving with the advancing bar. Itisseen, therefore, that the sawy blade ||9 vis double acting and cutstwo successive bar sections during each complete swinging cycle of saidblade.

The forward end section of the bar, after passing the field of operationof the saw blade ||9 is delivered onto a bar drop mechanism B andsupported thereon until said section has been cut off. This mechanismincludes a pair of longitudinal members |10 having transversely curvedportions [1| conjointly deninga semicircular bar supporting trough |12alined with the tubular guide 19 (Figs. 1, 2 and 13) 'I'he barsupportingmembers |16 are mounted for endwise movement back andforthwith the carriage 95. For that purpose there is provided a pair ofparallel yrods |14 secured respectively l,at one'end to a pair of spacedhangers |16 (Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6) connected to the underside ofthecarriage 95. Said rods |14 may besecured to the hangers v|1| in anysuitable manner. For

instance, said hangers may terminate at their' lower ends in sleeves |11and the inner ends of the rods `|14 may extend through said sleeves |11and be Vprovided with threaded extensions upon which nuts |18 abuttingone end of the sleeves |11. are screwed.,` Abutting the other ends ofthe sleeves |11 is a member |80 having vcollar portions xed to the rods|14 and servingnot only to hold the rods |14 against endwise movement tothe left as shown in Fig. 1 with respect to the hangers |16, but alsoserving as a cross brace for the rods |14 to hold said'Y rods inparallel relationship. These rods |14 are guided for endvviseVmovementbya fixed bracket |8I having apair of slide bearings |82(Flgs..l, 2 and 13).

The bar.` supporting members |10 are connected .to the rods' |14 forslidable movement therewith.

stitutes one arm of a bellv crank, the other arm |90 of ,whichyispivotally connected to one end of a trip rod |9l. This trip rod I9|`v isguided for slidable movement in a `member |92 .which is fixed to therods |14 for slidable movement therewith, and which may serve as a crossbrace for said rods. Each trip rod |9| has its portion extending beyondthe brace |92 encircled by a coil spring |94, one end of which abuts oneside of said brace, the other end abutting a pin |95" fixed to the outerend of said trip rod.` Thus,- the trip rods |9| are urged towards theright as shown in Fig. 1 between cutting periods. This action serves tourge the two bar Vsupporting members |10 into closed'bar supportingposition C shown dotted in Fig. 13. This vclosed position of the two barsupporting members |10 i`s"deter mined by stops |96 connected to thetrip rods |9| and abutting one side of the brace v|92 in this oposition.

In order to laterally separate the two bar supportingmembers |10 at theend of each cutting stroke, the fixed guide bracket |8| has a pair ofears |91 which support, respectively, a pair of members' |98 serving astargets for the trip rods |9|. In the specicforni shown, these targetmembers |98 are in the' form of bolts adjustably threaded into thebracketears |91. The heads of these target bolts |98 engage the outerends of the Atrip rods |9| at the end of 4their forward stroke, andprevent said rods from moving further to the right as shown in Fig. 1against the action of the springs |94, thereby causing 'the bell cranks|88 to be rotated. The links |84 and |85 of each bar supporting member|10 are in substantially parallel relationship so that this operationimparts to the two `bar supporting members |10 a lateral movement awayfrom each other; towards the position shown in Fig. 1 and the positionshown in full lines in Fig. l3, and a forward movement with respect tothe 'supported bar. This compound movement of the bar sup,- portingmembers |10 serves to carry the bar secmembers tion which has been cut,beyond the forward end Aof the succeeding bar, and 'to release said barsection 'so that it may dropl by gravity as shown in' Figs. 1 and 13, A

Upon the return movement of the carriage 95, 5 the rods |14 with theirbar supporting members |10 are moved to the left (Fig. l), the two triprods |9|, under the action ofthe springs |94 are returned'into'theirnormal position, andthe two bar supporting members |10 areagain brought1o together into position toV receive the advancing en d of the bar.During the next forward movement of the carriage 95, the bar supportingY n |10 vmove withfthe advancing bar and with the forward section ofsaid bar resting on 15 said members. 1 The rearends of the barsupporting members |18 are close yto the plane of the blade I9 so thatduring cutting periods the advancing bar on both sides of the bladeisamplysupportedagainst 20 tom wall 2|11. The top wall 2|6 `is providedwith 30 a longitudinal slot 2|8` directly below the bar supportingmembers |10, said slot being of suicient size as to permit the barsections, as they are released from saidmembers, to drop freelytherethroughl onto the bar carrier elements 2|| 35 of theV conveyer 2 I0; Y The conveyer 2 0 is provided with a drive shaft 22| which is,iournaledy in bearings 222 connected to plates 223 extending into thehardening chamber extension2|2 between the side walls 2|4 and 2|5 of thelatter. Said shaft has two drive sprockets 224,225 supporting'twoendless articulated link chains 226 carrying therebetween bars 228,forthe carrier members 2|| at suitable equally spaced intervals. These bar'carrier 5 members 2|| are 'of such shape and size as to receive the barsections dropped thereon through the hardening chamber'opening 2|8.

` As an important feature of the present invention, `the hardening roomconveyer 2|0 is operated in timed relationship with the bar dropmechanism B, so that at the instant this mechanisrnlis tripped torelease the bar section thereon, a carrier element 2|| on said conveyerwill be directly below the hardening room opening 2|8 55 ready toreceive the bar. For that purpose, the gear l58 which is driven from themotor 34 meshes with a gear 235 fixed to a shaft 236 which carries abevel gear 231 meshing with' afbevel gear 238 fixed to one end "of ashaft 240 (Figs. 2, 3 and 60 `4). `This shaft 240 carries a pinion 24|meshing with a gear242 keyed on a suitably journaled bearingV sleeve243. Extending into said bearing sleeve 243 for rotation therewith is ashaft 244 the outer end of which carries a clutch element 245. In the.specific form shown, this' clutch element v245 is in the form of aflange having a series of coupling pins 246 on the outer face thereof,and cooperates with a coupling element 241 lwhich is flxedto the endofthe conveyer drive shaft 22| and which is provided 'with apertures forreceiving said pins. By means of this construction, the conveyer driveshaft is operated in timed relationship with theA bar advancingmechanism, the bar cutting mechanism and the bar drop mechanism, and thevarious ktransmission members. are so proportioned that the conveyerchains 225 between the successive bar drop,-

. ping operationsare moved a distance equal to toward theright as shownin Fig. 13 and through.

the hardening room. As these bar sections complete their travel throughthe hardening room they vare carried by the lower run of the conveyer asshown in` Fig. -13 and dropped through an opening in the bottom wa112 ofthe hardening room extension 2|2 and onto a chute 249. The bar sections,after being frozen hard in the hardening room, may be cut intoindividual portions and packaged. y

In order to permit thetwo shafts 244 and 22| to be easily uncoupled, thesleeve 243 is externally threaded at its inner endy and is engaged by anut 250 which is connected to one vend of the shaft 244 for axialmovement therewith,vbut

which may be rotated with` respect lto said shaft.

244. The sleeve `243 is held against endwise movement rbetween a collar254 and the side of the gear 242, and the shaft 244 is splinedto saidsleeve for endwise movement therei`nso that the rotation of the nut 250causes the axial movement of the shaft 244 and the coupling element 245into and out of engagement with the coupling element 241 on the conveyerdrive shaft 22|. The coupling is so disposed that the element 24] iswithin the hardening room extension and therefore when the clutchelement 245l isn/,disengaged the conveyer may be moved out ofitshousing. The bar drop mechanism B may be detachably mounted at `one endto the hardening room extension 2|2. For instance, the guide bracketv|8| of this mechanism may have a boss 26U`which extends through a holein the side wall 2 |5 of the hardening room extension 2| 2, and whichisv secured to the frame plate 223 byva screw 262. By loosening thescrew 262 and the nuts |18, the w-hole bar drop mechanism may be removedfor cleaning purposes, and the loosening of thescrew 252 also liberatesthe conveyer for removal from its casing.

From the foregoing it will be noted that yin the specific form of theimproved mechanism illustrated, a bar ofenwrapped partially frozen icecream is advanced continuously. and at a substantially uniform rate fromthe mechanism which forms the bar, and the advance end lis supported bya carriage which moves with the bar. During the advancing movement, acutter carried by the carriage moves transversely through thebar to cutoff a section kbetween two points of moving supports, `and thereafterthe severed section is dIQDDed4 onto the hardening room conveyer. Thecuttermoves transversely only during the forward movement of thecarriage and this transverse movement is in'one direction during oneadvancingmovement, and in the opposite direction during the nextsuccessive advancing movement of the carriage.

The cutter is Vin the form of a high speed,"nar row, thin,double-edged,-reciprocating sawblade so that the minimum amount ofmaterial is removed from the kerf made by the saw. .'I'he material.

All ofvthe. parts are so designedthat access may be readily-gainedthereto for cleaning, and

the sections are rcut of! and dropped ontowthie hardening room conveyerat the minimum distance from the point atwhich the bar is formed. thereVis the minimum time of exposure `ci the partially" frozen material toAthe action 'of room temperature. f ,y f y The cutter operatingmechanism illustrated is designed for cutting a bar section ofapredetermined length. Ifit is desired to change the length, the cam maybe replaced by one giving a 'different length of carriage movement, andthe .appropriate change may be made-in the sprocket 55 or the sprocket56 or bothtckeep the speed of travel of the bar and carriage insynchronism. Only a portion of the hardening room and its conveyerisillustrated; as the details of construction of the conveyer and ofthehardeningroom form no portion'of the presentfin'vention but aredisclosed and claimed in a copending application: Having thus describedlour invention. whatwe claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Pat-'entisz 1. A traveling cut-01T Afor continuously advancing material,including a double-edged recipro- 4catory Ablade movabletransverselyrthrough the material tocut the same while traveling withthe material, and control means for eilectingv transverse cuttingvmovement inone direction during y -alternate forward movements, andtransverse cutting movement inthe opposite direction during the otherforward movements. f

2. A cut-oil'. mechanism for continuously advancing material, includinga'carriage movable v.back andforth along the line oi travel' of thematerial, a, reciprocatory blade carried by said carriage', means formoving the blade transversely of the carriage during onemovement ofvlthe carriage 'in' the vdirection of travel of the material, andm'ovingsaid blade transversely of the car- -riagein the opposite directionduring the next succeeding movement ofthe Icarriage in the di- I rectionof travel of the material.

3. A cut-off mechanism for continuously ady vancing material, includinga carriage movable back and forth in the. direction of travel of thematerial, a cutter pivoted to swing transversely of the carriage, meansfor reciprocatingsaid cutter duringits lswinging movement, and controlmeans forirnparting to the cutter a swinging movement havingaperiodicity twice that of the carriage, whereby the cutter movestransversely liin one direction during alternate forward movelments of.the carriage, and in the opposite direction during the' other forwardmovements.'

4. A cut-oi! mechanism for advancing material, including a carriagemovable back and Yforth in the direction of travel .of the material, avsaw ypivoted to swing transversely about an axis parallel to the lineyof travel ofthe material, and means concentric with said axis forreciprocating said saw. V n

5. A traveling cut-oil' including acarriage movL able back andforth inAthe direction of travel of the material to bev cuta shaft mounted onsaid carriage and extending lengthwise thereof, a double-edged sawblade,` means driv'en by said shaft `als for reciprocating said sawblade, and `.n'ieansf on said carriage for .intermittently swingingsaidsaw blade about the axis of said shaft as a center, the

-direction of swinging movement being in opposite directionsduringsuccessive movements vof the carriage in-the same direction withthematerial.

6. A traveling cut-off including a carriage movable back and forth inthe direction `of travel of the material to be cut, a.l cutting.bladermounted on saidcarriage, a cam for swingingsaidblade Athematerial to be cut, a double-edged -cutting blade mounted lon saidcarriage, a cam for swinging `said-blade transversely of the-directionof movement of the carriage'and about an axis parallel to the path ofmovement of the carriage, and means for operating said camintermittently and only duringthe movement of the carriage with thematerial, -andpermittingthe blade. to

remain substantially at rest during return movement of the carriage,`said cam being ,of such shape as to effect transverse movement of thebladein one direction during one movement of the Ycarriage with thematerial and transverse movement in the opposite direction during thenext successive movement of the carriage with the material.

8. A traveling cut-olf including a carriagemovable back and forth in thedirection of travel of the material, a shaft extending lengthwise of`said carriage, means for continuously rotating said shaft, a saw blademounted on said carriage, means operated by said shaft for reciprocatingsaid blade, a cam mounted on said carriage and rotatable about an axistransverse to the direction of movement of the carriage, means forrotating said cam only during the movement of the carriage in onedirection, and means operated by said cam for swinging said blade aboutthe axis of said shaft as a center. A

9. A traveling cut-off for continuously advancing material, including aframe, a carriage movable back and forth on said frame in the directionof travel of the material, a shaft mounted in said frame, a cam looselymounted for rotation on said shaft, driving means. between said cam andsaid shaft for oscillating the shaft during the rotation of the cam,driving means between said shaft and said carriage for reciprocating thecarriage, a cam mounted on said carriage'and rotatable about anaxisparallel to said shaft, a stationary rack bar 'having one-way drivingconnection with said second mentioned cam for rotating the latter duringmovement of said carriage in one direction only,v a cutter mounted onsaid carriage, and means connecting said cam and said cutter forswinging the latter first in one direction and then in the other duringrotation of said second mentioned cam.

10. A traveling cut-off for advancing material, including a carriagehaving a rack bar carried thereby, an oscillating shaft mountedindependently of the carriage and having a pinion'meshing with said rackbar, a rack bar mounted independently of said carriage, a cutter mountedon said carriage, and means mounted on said carriage and engaging saidsecond mentioned rack bar fonswinging.l said cutter during `movement ofsaid carriage. ,i v l A 11,.. A1 traNeling,Y cut-,off` ,including` jacarriage movable backend forth in the-direction.` of travel Vof thematerialto be,c 11ta shaft mounted on ,said carriage and extending4parallel to the direction o fmovement of the carriage, areciproca--,torysaw,. a frame carried by said saw, and mount- Ved to, oscillatevabout `the\axis of said shaft for swinging `said saw, andi an,eccentric mounted on said shaft and,operatively,.connected to said s awfor reciprocating thelatter duringits swinging.movement. n, i

.12.- A traveling cut-,off for a bar continuously advancingendvvise;rincluding a carriage movable back and forthinthe direction oftravel of said bar, la vtubularguide yfor said bar and mounted on saidcarriage, a double-edged cutterblade mounted. onusaid carriage, meansonhsaid= carriage for' reciprocating said bladaand means also on. saidcarriage for swingingsaidblade vback and forth through,` said barclosely adjacent to `one end of said tubular guide.

13. A traveling cut-off .forv a ,bar continuously advancing endwise,including a carriage movable back andforth inthe direction of travel of.said bar, a support mounted on said carriage forsaid bar, a pair ofmembersy also on said carriage .and conjointly forming a second supportfor said .barbeyond said-first mentioned' support, means fortransversely subdividing the bar between said supports during themovement of the carriage with the bar, and means for separating saidmembers to permit the cut od section to drop between them when thecarriage reaches a predetermined point in its travel with the bar.

`14. A traveling cut-oir for a continuously advancing bar, including acarriage, means for cutting from the bar a terminal section during themovement of the carriagewith the bar, a pair of members conjointlyforming a substantially semicylindrical support for the end portion ofthe bar and mounted onthe carriage beyond said cutting means, and meansfor separating said members to drop the cut off section therebetweenwhen the carriage reaches a predetermined point in its path of travelwith the'bar.

15. In an apparatus having means for continuously advancing a bar, acarriage movable back and forth in the direction of travel of the bar. acutter for intermittently cutting a `terminal section from the barduring movement of the carriage in one direction, and a conveyor movable.transversely of the direction of movement of the carriage and beneaththe latter, the combination of a casing enclosing said conveyor andhaving a slot throughwhich the cut ofi' sections drop onto the conveyor,a drive shaft, and means operated thereby for advancing .said conveyor,in timed relationship with said carriage and cutter.

16. A cut-olf mechanism for a bar of plastic material, including awrapper having oppositely disposed outwardly extending flanges, saidmechanism including a pair of traction rollers having fianges forgripping the flanges of said bar to continuously advance the bar at auniform rate, a carriage movable back and forth in the direction oftravel of the bar, and having a support for the terminal portion of. thebar, a cutter mount? ed onk .said carriage for intermittently cuttingfrom the bar a terminal section resting upon said support, a drivevshaft, means operated thereby for rotating said traction rollers, meansalso operated thereby for effecting back and forth movement of thecarriage, and means for interv-rollers.

from the cut o section.

17. A cut-off mechanism for a cylindrical bar of plastic material havinga wrapper presenting vormosite side iianges. said mechanism including apair of traction vrollers having peripheral grooves'cooperating to forma passage for said bar, and having side flanges for Vgrippingrtheflanges of the bar to continuously advance the latter at a uniform rate,and a carriage beyond said traction rollers and movable back and forthin the direction of travel of the bar, said carriage having atransversely movable cutter for cutting off a terminal section of-thebar during each movement of the carriage inthe` direction ofmovement of the bar, and means for operating said 'carriage in timedrelation with said traction 18. In an apparatus having means forcontinuously advancing a bar of` plastic material, a'carriage movableback and'forth'in" the direction of travel of the bar, a cutter forsubdividing from the bar successive terminal sections during'themovement of the carriage with the bar, and a conveyor beneath saidcarriage and movable in a direction at right angles to the direction 'ofmovement'of the carriage', `thecombination of a casing enclosing saidconveyor, a driving connection for said conveyor for voperating; thesame in Vtimed relationship with said carriage, and a clutch in saiddriving connection permitting the -of section. i

:Lusseml mittently operating said support to drop thererelease of saidconveyor and the bodily movement of said conveyor laterally from beneathsaid carriage. y

19. A cut-'oir mechanism for a bar of yplastic material',` including apair of traction rollers for rgripping saidl bar' to continuouslyadvance the bar Aat a uniform rate| a carriage movable back and forth inthedirection of travel of the baryand having` a. -support yforthe-terminal portion of the bar, a cutterifor intermittently cuttingfrom the lbar a te'rminalfsection resting upon said support,

adriveshaft, means operated `thereby for rotating said tractionrollers,and meansA also operated tl'ierby for eiecting back and forth movementof the carriage;

20. A cut-orf mechanism for a bar of plastic material, including a pairof traction rollers for Igripping said bar to continuously advance thebar 'at a uniform rate, a carriagemovable back and forth in the'direction of travel of 'the bar, and i Jhaving a support lfor theterminal portion of the bar, a cutter for intermittently cuttingv fromthe bar aterminal section resting upon said support, adriv'e shaft,means operated-thereby for rotating said-traction rollers, means alsooperated 'thereby for effectinggback and forth movement of the carriage;and'means -for intermittently operating said support to drop therefromthe vcut JOHN `HOHL.

PAUL PHELP's. i 30

